According to the book
description of Fahim Speaks: A Warrior-Actor's Odyssey from Afghanistan to
Hollywood and Back, "Fahim Fazli is a man of two worlds: Afghanistan,
the country of his birth, and America, the nation he adopted and learned to
love. Hes also a man who escaped oppression, found his dream profession, and
then paid it all forward by returning to Afghanistan as an interpreter with the
U.S. Marines. When Fahim speaks, the story he tells is harrowing, fascinating,
and inspiring. Born and raised in Kabul, Fahim saw his country and family torn
apart by revolution and civil war. Dodging Afghan authorities and informers with
his father and brother, Fahim made his way across the border to Pakistan and
then to America. After reuniting with his mother, sisters, and another brother,
he moved to California with dreams of an acting career. After 15 turbulent years
that included two unsuccessful arranged marriages to Afghan brides, he finally
qualified for membership in the Screen Actors Guildand found true American
love. Though Fahim's California life was happy and rewarding, he kept thinking
about the battlefields of Afghanistan. Haunted by a desire to serve his adopted
country, he became a combat linguist. While other interpreters opted for safe
assignments, Fahim chose one of the most dangerous: working with the
Leathernecks in embattled Helmand Province, where his outgoing personality and
deep cultural understanding made him a favorite of both Marines and local
Afghansand a pariah to the Taliban, who put a price on his head."
|